Well, I just found out I’m going to have to have a repeat c-section for my second baby. My first c-section was planned and we had a great anesthesiologist who insisted on being our personal photographer for the birth, haha. It ended up being a calm, happy experience and I had no issues with pain or healing or anything. So… I feel okay with this. Deep breath.

Now that that worry is out of the way, I have begun (very early, I know) my search for the perfect hospital bag and creating it. I originally thought about taking the easy way out and buying a hospital baby bag that was already made (yes, this is related to my gift bag obsession). But I was really surprised that although the lists are plentiful, it was really hard to find pre-made labor bags for sale (let alone C-section specific bags which don’t necessarily need the essential oils, relaxation CDs, stress balls, etc.).

One standout is the Push Pack from Small Batch Studio (pictured above) which contains items useful for any type of delivery – including a note pad, pen and thank you cards! The company also informed me that a special C-Section pack is in the works for this summer – awesome!

I also found My Pure Delivery Mama Bags (pictured below). The Posh Mama Bag, one of 4 the site offers (pictured below), packs 39 items including Earth Mama Angel Baby products which are free of yucky chemicals like phthalates, parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and a breastfeeding-friendly gown from Hot Mama Gowns for your hospital stay and beyond! The back massage tool might be more for laboring mamas, but I’m not one to turn down a back rub any time and I’d gladly stash that away for later.

(Updated) Due Date Bags just launched and although they’re back-ordered until January 2013, their ‘Labor Queen’ Mom Hospital ‘Go’ Bag (pictured below) is a fashionable option for c-section mommies. The set includes a nursing cami, nursing pads, nipple cream, a little outfit for baby & more packaged in your choice of pink or blue trim. The only item geared more towards a natural birth than a c-section are the cute undies that say “Shop Closed for 6 Weeks” – they’d just need to add in the word “approximately” for the c-section-ers, haha.

There’s also another cool company called BFFL Co. who aim to improve the patient experience with all sorts of care bags. One of their newest additions is the Mommy/Delivery BFFLBag and they really thought of everything! (see below). Although they don’t have a separate bag for c-section mommies, all bags include a wound/incision care pack. The tag is on the higher end, but 15% of the net profit from your purchase will be donated to the Harvard School of Public Health Women’s and Health Initiative so you can do some good for others while helping yourself.

Last, I also found these LaborKits which unfortunately are all sold out right now (but take a look at the contents for more ideas). If you know of any other companies selling hospital bags for new moms, please let me know!!

Things I wish I had brought to the hospital the first time but forgot:

My Kindle – those pain meds did NOT make me sleepy like they do for many people and man, was I bored! I was begging to leave the hospital. A Kindle (or other electronic reader) is a lifesaver when you have the baby taking up one arm as I found out after I got home: one finger (or even one toe – voice of experience there) can turn the page. A regular book has to be held open the whole time and turning pages can be an Olympic feat.

My bath towel – I use huge bath sheets at home so the towel they gave me to use at the hospital felt like the size of a washcloth.

Serious snack food – hospitals feed you on their schedule, not necessarily when you’re hungry. And if your visitors have left and daddy has gone home to take a shower, etc., you might be stuck in your bed not healed enough to walk to the vending machine yourself. I recommend GoPicnic ready-to- eat meals which have served me well so far during this pregnancy to tide me over during my commute home.

A notebook with attached pen – you never know when you’ll need to write something down or be struck by something amazing about your adorable new baby.

Hospital kits for new dads are even more rare. Nikki at Nature’s Heirloom made her own and it was pretty awesome if you want to get some ideas. But I just have one piece of advice for new dads who are accompanying their baby mamas into the operating room – those scrubs you have to wear are see-through!! (My hubby found this out when everyone started commenting on his Spongebob boxers… oh man, it’s still funny). DaddyScrubs (pictured above) has that problem solved at least. As mentioned above too, DueDateBags.com also has a super cute “Labor Coach” kit for the Dad-to-be along with really inspired Hospital ‘Go’ Bags for Big Bro and Big Sis (pictured below). Definitely don’t want to forget about your first-born! And I found one more great list for making your own hospital survival kit for daddy from the blog, Scott and the Tiny Human.